The following is a brief confession from a series written for my Systematic Theology classes.
I believe in one God (Deut. 4:35, 6:4, Ps. 86:10, Eph. 4:5, 1 Tim. 2:5) who created the Heavens and the Earth (Ps. 102:25) and all things in them (Gen. 1:1, Ex. 20:11, Rev. 4:11). Everything that is created, He created out of nothing by the power of His word (Ps. 33:6, Heb. 11:3, John 1:3, Rom. 4:17). He alone gives life to all things (Neh. 9:6, Is. 42:5). He is over all created things (Ps. 83:18) and sustains them (Col. 1:17). He will someday redeem the created order (Acts 3:21, Col. 1:20) and all people (Ps. 111:8-9) who call on His Son for salvation.
I believe that God exists as a loving and sacrificial community (John 3:35, 1 John 4:8, Matt. 26:39) of three distinct persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—with one common essence (Matt. 3:16-17, 28:19, John 14:26). Though they are equal in their divinity (Col. 2:9, Phil. 1:2, Titus 2:13, Acts 5:3-4), they express diverse roles. The Father is the originator of all things (Mal. 2:10, Deut. 32:6), maintaining divine authority over history (Acts 1:7). The Son reveals the Father (John 14:7, 9), and redeems His people (Gal. 3:13, Titus 2:14, 1 Peter 1:18-21). The Spirit bears witness to Christ, and seals and indwells the believer.
I believe that God has no beginning and no end (Ps. 90:2, Isa. 57:15, Rev. 1:8), and therefore was not Himself created, but has existed as He is for all eternity (Gen. 21:33, Ps. 90:2). He has no physical body or parts (Num. 23:19, John 4:24), and depends on nothing or no one (Is. 40:12-14). His loving nature, character (Mal. 3:6, Jam. 1:17), and ultimate plan is consistent (Ps. 33:11, 2 Pe. 3:9), unchanging throughout eternity. Although God is not bound by time, He walks with us through it (Matt. 1:23), responding in His actions and decisions to the unfolding history of mankind (Ex. 32:14, Jonah 3:10).
I believe that God is infinitely perfect (Deut. 32:4, Ps. 18:30, Matt. 5:48). He knows all there is to know, past and present and future (1 Sam. 2:3, Dan. 2:22, Matt. 6:8, Isa 46:10, Dan. 2:28, Matt. 24:36, Rom 8:29, 1 Pe. 1:2). He has power over all things in Heaven and on Earth (Matt. 28:18), restrained only from acting in contradiction to His unchanging character (Num. 23:19, 2 Tim. 2:13, James 1:13). His being fills all of space and is present at all times in all places (Jer. 23:23-24). I believe God made mankind in His image, though He is wholly set apart (Isa. 55:8-9) by His righteous character and infinite wisdom.
I believe that He created mankind with freedom, in love inviting him to continue in perfect relationship with Himself, but also permitting him to disobey (Gen. 2:16-18). Because of His righteousness and holiness, He was alienated from His creation by the sin of Adam (Gen. 3:1), and in his justice cursed both man and all of creation (Gen. 3:17-24).
And although the sin of man grieves God (Ps. 78:40, Is. 53:4) provoking His righteous wrath (Ps. 7:11, Rom. 1:18, 2:5), He is patient with us (Rom. 9:22, 2 Pet 3:9), not content to let us go our own way. He continues to work out His plan to restore the relationship with mankind that was broken at the fall (Luke 1:68, 2 Cor. 5:21). He has therefore withheld his wrath (John 3:36), having mercy on all who are in Christ. Instead, He offers an unmerited gift of grace (Acts 11:23, Eph. 2:8), and eagerly seeks to redeem a people to Himself (1 Tim. 2:3-4), having provided His own Son as a substitute for the judgment man deserves (Gal. 3:13, Rom. 5:9). In the end, He will make all things new (Rev. 21:1), bringing ultimate glory to Himself (2 Cor. 3:18, 1 Tim. 1:17).
I believe God is the only one who is worthy of our worship (Ps. 22:23, 1 Chr. 16:25, Rev. 4:11). He deserves the highest place in our lives, and our full devotion and obedience (Deut. 10:12-13, 30:16).
